The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women denounced the approval on 2nd reading of the Bayanihan to Arise as One Act bill (Bayanihan 3) at the House of the Representatives yesterday that underrated the role of “food security frontliners” or rural-based sectors.  This is amid that since last year, many groups of farmers, peasant women, agricultural workers and fisherfolk are demanding P10,000 as social amelioration; P15,000 as production subsidy and P100 daily wage emergency relief. 

“Kalokohan ang P54.6-bilyon para sa retired military dahil hindi ito ang kagyat, at ang kailangang buhusan ng pondo ngayon ay ang produksyon ng pagkain at pag-angat sa lubog nang kalagayan ng mga maralitang sektor, laluna na ng mga magsasaka at nasa kanayunan.  Pagkain ang kailangan ngayon, at essential ang mga magsasaka at iba pang food producers, dahil may nagaganap na ngang krisis sa pagkain.  Bahagi na naman ito ng ‘Duterte Palpak’ dahil prayoridad na naman ang militar kaysa pagkain na pangunahing kailangan ng taumbayan,” exclaimed Zenaida Soriano, Amihan National Chairperson.

Amihan said that the Duterte-controlled congress should start acting as “human beings” and hear the legitimate and common sense demands of food producers.  It added that food production in the country would be threatened if these sectors are unable to roll the “wheels of production” as brought about by bankruptcy and indebtedness, all courtesy of the militarist and useless policies of Duterte acting out as pandemic response.

“Hindi ba kayang mag-isip ng matino ang mga naturingang mambabatas diyan sa kongreso? Ang simple lang ng panawagan namin na, kapag sinuportahan ang mga magsasaka sa produksyon ng pagkain, magtutulak ito ng pagtaas ng produktibidad, at mumura ito sa pamilihan, para naman sa kapakinabangan ng mga maralitang konsyumer.  Hindi ba kaya ng kukote nilang maintindihan iyan?” Soriano added.

Moreover, the group expressed support to the amendments being pushed by lawmakers under the Makabayan bloc, particularly the “ayuda” for rural-based sectors. 

“Malinaw na malinaw na mismong gubyerno ang nagpapapalala ng krisis.  Karugtong ng mga militarista at di-siyentipikong tugon kuno sa pandemya, dumagdag pa ang Bayanihan 3 na ito na ang turing sa mga magsasaka at taumbayan ay mga pulubi, at tatanggapin na lang ang ga-baryang adyuda,” she lamented.

Lastly, Amihan called on various sectors to expose and hold the Duterte regime accountable for its sustained neglect, marginalization, and abuses to our food security frontliners. ###

Please follow and like us:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow by Email